The content of WEEE (electrical and electronic waste) gives recyclers various initiatives for recycling. It contains hazardous substances, such as lead, mercury or certain flame retardants, as well as precious metals like gold and silver. In 2012 approx. 64,900.000 ton electronic goods where produced and 49.000.000 ton electrical and electronic waste (WEEE) was generated. As the amount of sold electronic goods rise, the amount of WEEE rises. It is vital that this waste is taken care of properly.

The safe extraction of valuable raw materials: robots automatically dismantle monitors containing mercury, while protecting workers’ health at the same time.
According to initial projections, around three million LCD screens will be recycled in Germany in 2016. However, their backlighting system often contains mercury, which means they are classified as 'hazardous waste' in accordance with the EWC, and as 'Collection Group 3' in accordance with the Electrical and Electronic Appliance Law. They also contain valuable raw materials, such as metals and plastics, which have to be recovered in such a way, that the environment is not harmed. However, recycling specialists, Erdwich Zerkleinerungssysteme GmbH, have now developed an alternative: The company from Kaufering has developed an automatic processing system that enables mercury and other valuable raw materials to be easily extracted and recycled in an environmentally-friendly way.

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